Just got back late last night from another out of town venture and I am tired. But I am thankful, blessed, and ready for the week. So here are some thoughts to get the week rolling.
There usually isn’t much of a debate about this, in my life, but this weekend affirmed it: Sandwiches are my favorite food group. I love sandwiches, especially ones I can creatively piece together on my own. I am always looking for new sandwich combinations does anybody have one for me. Here is one I have been eating lately.
Sourdough Bread, Fresh guacamole (homemade of course), provolone, thinly sliced turkey, I like to put the bread, meat and cheese in the toaster oven till it is just right then add the guacamole.
It is simple and delicious. I like my guacamole a little spicy which makes it go well with the turkey. Other variations of this are to exchange the provolone for pepper jack cheese or to go with chicken breast.
If you are looking for some good fun summer reading, I have been enjoying Daniel Silva’s collection this summer. Typical spy, espionage, terrorist plots, but with some nice European and Israeli flavor. I am also chewing through The New Conspirators by Tom Sine which is a great book about the future of the church in the 21st Century. I also had the book Deep Change by Robert Quinn highly recommended to me this weekend.
I love my new phone. Picked up a Samsung Blackjack and I am really enjoying it. I debated waiting and saving for the new Iphone which is far cooler and more stylish, but I am pleased with the blackjack. Now I can check my email at all times. That can only make life simpler and easier, right?!?!
I sing to my kids a lot. This isn’t because I am a great singer it is just because I love music. Right now my daughter keeps requesting that I sing Sugar Mountain by Neil Young. She likes Neil Young, and knows the lyrics to several of his songs. Here is what the song is supposed to sound like.
On a Biblical note I was visiting another church on Sunday while I was out of town and two things happened I haven’t seen in a while. First, people brought their Bibles to church. Second, when I read from a passage, they turned there and followed along. They actually have, use, and know their Bibles. It was cool. I am really trying to help promote and provide more Biblical literacy for the people I am blessed to preach to and to live life with and it was just a nice reminder that there are places where Biblical literacy happens. I needed that encouragement.
Anyways, have a great week and as Neil says, Keep on Rocking in the Free World.
July 14, 2008 at 9:05 pm
How are you going about promoting biblical literacy? How can we teach the importance of biblical literacy to a biblically illiterate congregation? Especially in a community that is so ingrained in their current values and practices (or lack there of).
July 14, 2008 at 9:44 pm
How about promoting the need for inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be in tandem with encouraging people to dive into the Bible. How about encouraging people to pray for being filled with the Holy Spirit?
Maybe if the leaders brought bibles to worship the people would follow along.
How come you ignored my comment to your slave post?
July 15, 2008 at 1:02 am
I think we can promote Biblical literacy in a number of ways. Certainly our handling of scripture in worship is a big part of it. In our services we give people the scripture in the bulletin and display it on the screens. Of course the question is are we making scripture too accessible because then they don’t have to bring a Bible or use one to find the passages we are preaching on.
That is why I encourage people to open up a Bible when I preach, I at least want them to touch a Bible during worship, even if it isn’t theirs.
I also teach a lot about the structure, order, formation, and methodology of studying scripture in my classes.
I think that prayer is a big part of understanding scripture, especially through application, but being a good prayer does not necessarily make us Biblically literate.
July 15, 2008 at 2:22 am
People need the Holy Spirit to inspire them to gain understanding of Scripture.
July 15, 2008 at 11:29 am
Yes they certainly do, but one doesn’t necessarily equal the other. I know in many traditions that emphasize the Word heavily, there is little actual knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand in many of our more Spirit filled traditions Biblical illiteracy runs rampant. We need the Spirit to understand scripture, but we also need scripture to understand the Spirit.
True Biblical literacy comes when our spirits and our minds are unified in the pursuit of God. Of course it is a remnant of Greek philosophy that we think we can ever separate our spirit and our mind in the first place. Becoming disciples is a process of understanding the oneness of our being. We too often separate ourselves into different parts as if they aren’t connected. Now I am rambling..
July 15, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Yes, you are.
How could anybody have meaningful knowledge of God’s word without it being born out of experiencing the Holy Spirit?
Understanding Scripture comes when people have a genuine relationship with God. People need the indwelling Holy Spirit and a community of faith to grow in knowledge of the ways of God.
There certainly must be variables in “knowing” too. Someone could have basic knowledge of Scripture, but not a deeper understanding of God’s truth because of a lack of balance in their life of faith.
Perhaps those traditions that emphasize the word and have little knowing of the Holy Spirit are missing a great gift. The Holy Spirit is not just for some parts, but for all. Scripture says so. We as individuals and we as a community may be united but only through the Holy Spirit.
July 15, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Maggie….
Did I state or imply that there I am celebrating a tradition that emphasizes the word over the Spirit? I agree that if they are, they are certainly missing out.
What I would define as Biblical literacy is not just a familiarity or knowledge of scripture but an understanding of it that comes through transformation and a Spirit filled life.